A/N: I don't own anyone in WWE or TNA.
Batista Addicts- Thanks for the reviews, keep them coming. :)
Zoe POV
I didn't sleep very well that night because I was trapped by Dave. I didn't understand why he wanted me so bad when I had nothing to offer. I was just another wealthy Roman woman who had lost her parents and her brother was in power. I didn't stand out at all and I didn't aspire for anything; I was a ghost in life. I had lost the things that made me happy and I didn't want to replace them. My only hope in life was my friends and Paul. I couldn't really even see my friends anymore, because Dave was keeping me a prisoner.
I awoke the next morning when Dave woke up. I quickly went to my room and changed. I was so tired and I just didn't care anymore. I changed and went with Maria to the baths; Dave and Paul were going to be at the senate.
We got to the baths. Jeff and Maryse were sitting outside, talking and eating, while they waited on us. Maria wanted some time with me and I was just glad to be away from Dave.
"Are you ok? We heard you and Dave fighting last night." She asked me.
"Yes." I said and she hugged me.
"What happened?" she asked me and I was almost embarrassed to tell her about the problem.
"Dave wanted something and I didn't." I said and Maria looked at me for a minute and then realized what I was talking about.
"Have you ever?" she asked me.
"Yeah, John." I told her and she nodded.
"What are you going to do?" Maria asked me.
"I don't know; I don't care anymore. I was going to just try and survive until I could go to Punk, but now I don't care. I just want Dave to leave me alone." I told her.
Dave POV
I had finished at the senate and gone to the baths. I knew that Maria and Zoe were already there. I walked to where they were and listened to what they were saying. I wanted to know how Zoe really felt.
"I know, Dave, and I know that he can be kind. I know that you are unhappy, but please don't do anything to get yourself killed." Maria told Zoe and I realized she did mean what she had said the night before.
"I know, but I hate this. I want nothing more than to be normal or at least not a play toy to the emperor. I hate how he thinks he can just take things without thinking about others. I mean the emperor's job is to think about others; it doesn't make sense." Zoe said and Maria let out a small laughed.
"Just make it a month, is there anything you like about Dave?" she asked Zoe.
"Yeah, he isn't bad looking, he can be nice, and anytime he isn't talking or forcing himself on someone is nice." She said and I realized I was seeing the real side of Zoe.
"Funny, is you could pick someone, not John, who would you pick?" Maria asked her.
"Evan or Punk." She said and I realized she did have dreams, but she was too scared of me to tell me. I knew that she would never tell me what she really wanted.
"Well, at least Dave picked well." Maria said and I could hear Zoe laugh.
"Are you happy?" Zoe asked Maria.
"I am, Paul is everything I wanted. He is caring, loving, gentle, and anything else I could ask for." Maria told Zoe.
"John was like that." Zoe said and I realized that Zoe did compare everyone to John, but it sounds like he made her happy.
They continued to talk as I walked to my bath. I needed to talk to someone about it, but I wasn't sure who to trust. I usually talk to Punk, but we weren't happy with each other. I finally had Ric come to the baths.
He came in and joined me. He knew that something was bothering me and I always looked at him like a father.
"What's wrong?" he asked me.
"Am I being to mean to Zoe?" I asked him and he looked at me.
Ric POV
I was with Dave in the baths and I thought of him as a son. I have served his family for years and I was with him when he took over the empire. I knew that he was trying to be a good emperor and I knew that he needed all the advice I could give him.
"What do you mean?" I asked him.
"Well, I gave, Paul, Maria if I could have Zoe move into the palace. She moved in and she hates it. I promised Punk he could have her, but I don't think she is going to make it. She drives me crazy and I know that we don't get along." He told me.
"Why did you want her?" I asked him.
"Because she was the one thing I couldn't have. Paul was protective of her when her parents died, she had John, and then when she could chose, she didn't want me." He said and I nodded. I knew that he craved things that he couldn't have.
"And you say that she hates it here?" I asked him.
"Yes, and I am sure that you have noticed as well." He said and I had noticed that she was unhappy and that he wasn't treating her well.
"I have and I have noticed that you are not treating her in the best manner." I told him and he looked at me.
"I know, but I just wanted her so bad." He said and I chuckled. He could have any girl he wanted, but he wanted the one who hate d him.
"Well, have you tried to let her come to you?" I asked him and he looked at me like I was crazy.
"That's a no, you need to back off, give her space, make her happy, and maybe she will come to you." I told him and he nodded.
"I know it's strange, but no hitting her, yelling, or forcing anything on her." I said and he sighed. Dave was nice person, but he wasn't used to being told no, so he didn't know how to react to it.
"I can try." He said and I smiled at him. Dave would make a good ruler, but he did need to think about other people.
Maria POV
I was glad that I had spent the day with Zoe since tonight was a feast to celebrate a guest coming for a few days. The person was an Egyptian and we were current allies with the Egyptians.
I went with Zoe and we got ready in her room. I knew that Paul was still at the senate and I knew that if I was with Zoe, Dave wouldn't bother her.
We got ready and we escorted each other. I walked over to Paul and Zoe stood by Dave. I could see her tense when she got close enough to him. I felt bad for her, but I was glad that she only had one month to be in the palace. I was just hoping that Dave didn't hurt her; I knew that Paul was thinking he had made a mistake. I knew that he loved me, but I understood because she was his only family for a long time.
Dave POV
I was glad to see Zoe, but I remember what Ric had told me. I needed to be nicer and maybe she would come to me. He did tell me it might take a little time so I had to be patient. I had one month to make her not hate me and I was determined to do it.
Zoe was beside me and I saw Punk and Evan walk into the room.
"Go sit with Evan and Punk." I told her and she nodded.
I watched as she walked over to them. She was happy and I saw her hug both of them as she sat down with them. I wanted her to be happy, but I also wanted her to chose to stay with me.
Punk POV
I was glad that Zoe was sitting with Evan and me during the feast. I was surprised that she was allowed to, but I wasn't going to question it.
"Are you ok?" Evan asked her as she nodded.
"Yes." She said.
I knew that they were close friends and I was glad that Zoe had someone to talk to that wasn't Maria or Dave to yell at her.
"Go walk in the garden, I will cover." I told them and she hugged me.
I watched as they snuck into the garden and Evan looked happy to see her. I watched her and Evan go out towards the fountain and sit down. I turned back around and there was Dave. I just hoped that he didn't get mad.
"Well, at least she is smiling." He said and walked away. I just looked at him like he was crazy, because he didn't get mad or anything.
The night was good and the Egyptian party was welcomed to Rome. They were going to go to the games tomorrow and Dave had told me to keep an eye on Zoe tomorrow. I was glad that she got to be away from him for the day and I was glad to get to spend the time with her.
Evan POV
I was so glad that I got to spend time with Zoe. I had fun talking to her and she told me everything that was going on. I was livid at Dave, but I was glad that he was only going to keep her for a month. I hated that the night ended because she was going to have to go contend with Dave. I hated that she was unhappy and I hated that she was in fear of him.
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